胶带

• Pinyin: jiāo dài
• Hanzi breakdown: 胶 = 月 (flesh) + 交 (cross), meaning glue/rubber; 带 = 巾 (cloth) + a strap shape, meaning belt/strip

Meaning

Tape; adhesive tape. A strip with adhesive on one side.

General term for various types of tape including packing tape, masking tape, and duct tape. 透明胶带 is clear tape, 双面胶带 is double-sided tape. Common in offices, shipping, and crafts.

Examples

1. 用胶带把这个包裹封好，别让里面的东西掉出来。 Use tape to seal this package so the contents don't fall out.
2. 她用彩色胶带装饰了自己的手账本。 She decorated her journal with colorful tape.
3. 电线破损的地方应该用绝缘胶带包好。 Damaged parts of electrical wires should be wrapped with insulating tape.

Usage Guide

Context: office, shipping, crafts, repairs

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 给我一卷胶带。(Give me a roll of tape.)
• 用胶带粘一下。(Tape it up.)

Don't Say

• 吃一些胶带 (胶带 is not edible — this would be a strange sentence)

Origin & History

Compound of 胶 (glue, adhesive) + 带 (strip, belt), meaning adhesive strip.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal